Draw On! @ the Library

The Ridgefield Library is once again proud to partner with the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum for a celebration of drawing.  Draw On! will take place from Saturday, March 26 through Saturday, April 9, and there are several ways for you to enjoy the celebration.  Artist Elizabeth Duffy has created an original work based on the history of Ridgefield, using various types of local maps to trace the origins of the town’s founders.  You can see Duffy’s work at the Aldrich, of course, but you can also see some of her work at the Ridgefield Library. There are two pieces of her art -  large window decals -  on the front of the Library.  Now that Spring has sprung, why not take a walk down Main Street and enjoy the view?  The Ridgefield Library is also creating our own map-based art project, and we need your help.  Library Assistant Diana Messer painted a map of the town on the windows of the Storytime Sculpture Room, and we are encouraging patrons to use the paper we are providing, and to draw their favorite places in Ridgefield.  We’ll be hanging up your drawings on the map throughout the two weeks of Draw On!

You can learn more at the Draw On! website at http://www.drawon.org.

Contributed by Geri Diorio, Teen Services Librarian and Head of Children's Services.

Library Offers Many Early Literacy Resources

The Ridgefield Library will continue its recent focus on literacy Tuesday, April 5^th at 7:30 PM, with “Early Literacy Resources,” an event for parents of 3 to 6-year-olds.  Please join us and learn how you can support your children’s literacy growth with a wealth of free resources on the web and at the Library.  Get a guided tour through the stacks by staff librarians and view a demonstration of the Library’s online capabilities.  Highlights will include an introduction to available formats and media such as educational DVDs and book-and-audio kits; tips on searching for books by genre and level; recommended reading lists by interest and age; the Little Pim language learning program for young children; and the TumbleBooks online literacy resource. Registration is requested at 203-438-2282 x1024. Even if you are a regular visitor, you will be amazed by how much more the Library has to offer!

This event was developed by the Younger Set, a committee of community volunteers who work with library staff to organize and promote programs for pre-schoolers and their families.  If you would like to help plan future events, please contact Mary Rindfleisch at 203-438-2282 x1009 or mfrind@ridgefieldlibrary.org. 

Literature Resource Center @ the Library

Whether you are just curious or have an assignment concerning authors and their works, the Ridgefield Library has a resource for you. Literature Resource Center is the world's most current, comprehensive and reliable source for online literature research. It is rich in critical, biographical and contextual materials supporting interdisciplinary approaches, information literacy and the development of critical thinking skills. Users will find the information they need on authors and their works from all time periods and from around the world.
While particularly useful for high school students and undergraduates, its convenience, ease of use and credible resources will be appreciated by graduate students and faculty as well as the general reader or book discussion leader.

Included in its content are biographical entries, criticism and overviews of frequently studied works from compilations like Contemporary Authors, Contemporary Literary Criticism, Drama Criticism, Poetry Criticism, Short Story Criticism and Children’s Literature Review. One will also find many full-text poems, interviews and lists of authors and works sharing characteristics such as genre, setting, time period and themes.

LRC offers the ability to print, email or download articles, and citation tools are easily available. It can be found on the Library’s website on the Literature section of the Research & Reference pages.

Contributed by Reference Services Head Victoria Carlquist

Dimitri's Supports the New Ridgefield Library

The Ridgefield Library is fortunate to have a great neighbor right on Prospect Street.  Dimitri’s Diner has been the location of many young adult book discussions and has served breakfast to hundreds of Camp Snooze 4^th graders after their library sleepovers. Library staff and patrons can frequently be seen lunching or dining in the nearby restaurant.  Now Dimitri’s has made a very generous offer in support of our Campaign for the New Ridgefield Library.  Through May 31^st, when you eat at Dimitri’s and present a special coupon, 10% of the cost of your purchase will be donated to the Library to support our building project. In the words of restaurant partner Kostas Mavridis, “Let’s make our community better!”

You can pick up coupons at the Library or print them out at the library website at www.ridgefieldlibrary.org or the new project website at www.thenewridgefieldlibrary.org.

Dimitri’s has a long history of supporting youth and education in our community through scholarships, sports team sponsorships and other activities.  The Library is honored to be the beneficiary of their latest philanthropic effort.  Thanks to them, and to all who take part in this coupon promotion, for your support.  As Dimitri’s famous slogan says, “Life is Beautiful!”

Have Fun with Languages at the Ridgefield Library

The Ridgefield Library can help your child learn another language.  You may know about our foreign language picture books, or the Muzzy software available for loan, but we now also offer a children’s version of our popular web-based language learning software, Mango.  It is called Little Pim, and it is an enjoyable and easy way for children ages 0 to 6 to learn a second language.

Little Pim includes short videos of children eating and drinking, playing, and waking up smiling.  Within these videos is the Little Pim panda, an animated character who narrates the action with clear speech, allowing your child to grasp the basics of Russian, German, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Italian, Hebrew, English, Spanish or French. After watching the videos a few times, children can “test” themselves by playing with virtual flashcards.

Studies show that very young children can learn languages more easily than older people. The Library has gotten requests from many parents for language materials for their children, and we are delighted to be able to help our youngest patrons get off to a good start being international citizens.  Please visit the Library’s website and click on the Children’s page.  A link to Little Pim is front and center!

Contributed by Geri Diorio, Head of Children’s Services and Teen Services Librarian